We all make mistakes, shake our heads and think to ourselves that we’ll never do ____ again. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to make that same mistake again … and again. There are ways, though, to get out of this rut and gain valuable life lessons.

Amy Morin, contributor to Forbes, recently wrote about five ways we can learn from our mistakes. Her list includes:

1. Acknowledge your errors. You have to be able to admit to yourself that you messed up and take responsibility for the outcome.
2. Ask yourself tough questions. Morin recommends writing down your mistake and what you can learn from it, in an effort to think it through more logically.
3. Make a plan. Don’t dwell on the mistake or on the past. Instead, create a plan that will help you avoid making the mistake again.

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